For more information, contact:
Kristina Gawrgy
202-350-8857
kgawrgy@naeyc.org

For Immediate Release:
June 4, 2006

National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development
Connecting with Standards

(San Antonio, TX) – More than 1,800 early childhood education leaders and researchers will be in San Antonio this week to discuss strategies for preparation and continuing education of teachers and administrators of programs for young children. The National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development, which will be held June 4-7 at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and Marriott Riverwalk hotels, is organized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the world's largest organization of early childhood educators.

“The Institute is a unique opportunity for researchers and educators to share best practices for preparing and mentoring adults who care for and teach our nation’s youngest children,” said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., Executive Director of NAEYC. “This year’s Institute focuses on how standards, including early childhood program standards and professional preparation standards, can improve the quality of early childhood education.”

Institute participants are college faculty, trainers, consultants and others who educate teachers and administrators of child care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, and elementary schools. During the meeting in San Antonio, participants will hear a variety of presentations by experts in early childhood education, including a keynote address by Barbara Bowman, Chief Officer of Early Childhood Education for the Chicago Public Schools. On Wednesday, the closing plenary session, “Quality: Standards, curriculum, and assessment” will be a panel discussion featuring:

• Stephanie Feeney from the University of Hawaii at Manoa,
• Samuel Meisels from the Erikson Institute, and
• Catherine Scott-Little from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Other sessions will focus on important topics in the preparation of early childhood educators, including:

• Curriculum and state standards
• Quality rating systems and standards
• Linking assessment to instruction
• Assessments, policy, and accountability

In addition, on Saturday, June 3, two day-long workshops will be held on accreditation systems for higher education programs:

• NAEYC’s new Associate Degree Accreditation system sets the standard of excellence for early childhood teacher preparation programs at 2-year colleges and institutions. The process includes extensive self-study and reporting, and a site visit, leading up to an accreditation decision made by a national commission of early childhood professionals.
• NAEYC works with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) to accredit high-quality baccalaureate and graduate programs that meet the five core NAEYC standards for professional preparation:
  • promoting child development and learning;
  • building family and community relationships;
  • observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families;
  • teaching and learning; and
  • becoming a professional.

Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children has nearly 90,000 members worldwide.  The association is the largest and most influential advocate for early care and education in the United States.

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